South San Francisco City Council Meeting - May 13, 2026: Proclamations, Budget, VLF Shortfall, and Priorities
South San Francisco City Council Meeting - May 13, 2026
The South San Francisco City Council met on May 13, 2026, to discuss and act on a range of items including proclamations, a budget subcommittee report, a vehicle license fee (VLF) shortfall presentation, amendments to the city's priorities action plan, and resolutions on solid waste rates and a community-based transportation plan. The meeting also featured public comments on various topics.
Consent Calendar
- Items 3 through 16 were approved unanimously by roll call vote.
- Item 17 (ordinance amending the project at 1051 Mission Road) was pulled from consent and approved 4-1, with Mayor Adiego voting no.
- Item 18 was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Cynthia Markopolis criticized the city's handling of public records requests, alleging duplicative responses and lack of accounting for a $2.25 million FEMA grant and Measure P funds. She questioned the role of Redwood Public Law in setting city policy across multiple jurisdictions.
- Leslie Fong highlighted positive community events (food drives, blood drives, toy drives), the library's 3D printer, a mobile health clinic, the women's rummage sale, and recommended a local restaurant in San Bruno.
- Trinity Quepo, a junior at South San Francisco High School, urged council to support Peninsula Clean Energy's reach codes for building electrification, citing that California's residential and commercial buildings account for roughly 14% of the state's total greenhouse gas emissions. She emphasized health benefits and a sustainable future.
- Corey David opposed recent approvals for the PUC project, alleging a discounted land sale from $11 million to $5.5 million in 2019, and a waiver of over $10 million in impact fees. He criticized city credit card spending and capital projects while the MSB remains closed.
- Fianola challenged the student speaker on renewables, stating renewables generate only 25-28% of needed power, and criticized the city attorney's firm for reducing public document access.
Discussion Items
- Proclamations: The Mayor presented a proclamation for National Public Works Week (May 17-23, 2026). Councilmember Flores presented a proclamation for Mental Health Awareness Month, joined by Behavioral Health Commissioner Yoko Eng, who highlighted events and the lime green ribbon campaign. The county theme is "Mental Health is for Everyone / Unidos por la salud mental."
- Council Comments: Councilmembers reported on various activities: a balanced budget for FY 2026-27 with larger-than-expected TOT and property tax revenues; attendance at League of California Cities advocacy in Sacramento regarding VLF shortfall and bills (AB 1588, AB 2296, AB 1708); local events (scholarship luncheon awarding over $60,000, Linden Park groundbreaking with $3.2 million in state funding, Arbor Day tree planting at Sister Cities Park, mental health training for elected officials, and sister city delegations from Kishiwada, Japan and Ato Tinil, Mexico). Councilmember Flores noted South San Francisco stands to lose about $5.1 million from VLF, potentially closing a fire station, reducing preschool access, and cutting community policing.
- Vehicle License Fee (VLF) Shortfall: Assistant City Manager Richley presented a detailed history and projections. San Mateo County is owed $157 million for past fiscal years, and South San Francisco's share could reach $14 million annually by 2032. Potential impacts include closing a fire station, ending community outreach and school liaison programs, increasing preschool fees by 75%, ending Concert in the Park, reducing library hours, and cutting holiday decorations. Councilmember Flores reported positive receptions from state budget subcommittees but no permanent fix in the May revise. A trailer bill may provide backfill, not ongoing funding.
- 2026 City Council Priorities Action Plan Amendments: Staff recommended adding four priorities: air quality study (including CalEnviroScreen validation), VLF communications plan, community facilities district (CFD) re-engagement in East of 101, and activating street spaces. Council debated adding a reach codes study. After discussion, a motion passed to adopt revisions: remove the CFD item and add electrical readiness/reach codes study, retain VLF communications and other items. The vote was unanimous.
- Solid Waste and Biosolids Rate Adjustments: South San Francisco Scavenger Company presented its 2026 update, including three new front-end loaders, two side loaders, one roll off, and one rear load on order. The company conducted 8,054 on-call cleanups in the past year, achieved about 80% SB 1383 compliance through lid-flipping and education, and performed 23 city community events. Council expressed support for electrification of vehicles and outreach. The resolution approving CPI-based rate adjustments (80% of CPI for the second year) passed unanimously.
- CCAG Community-Based Transportation Plan: Noe Noyola (MIG) and Kaki Chung (CCAG) presented the CBTP for South San Francisco and San Bruno, focusing on four equity priority communities in South City (West of Downtown, Paradise Valley, Old Town, Lynville). Challenges included high transportation costs, safety concerns, road conditions, limited late-night transit, and lack of awareness of existing programs. The plan includes 36 recommendations. Councilmembers noted the need for connectivity, especially completing the Centennial Trail to Caltrain. The resolution supporting the plan passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Proclamations declared for National Public Works Week and Mental Health Awareness Month.
- Consent calendar items 3-16 approved; item 17 (ordinance) approved 4-1 (Mayor Adiego dissenting); item 18 approved.
- Resolution adopting the Master Fee Schedule for FY 2026-27 passed 4-1 (Councilmember Flores dissenting).
- Resolution on VLF shortfall presented; council directed staff to continue advocacy for a permanent legislative fix.
- Amendments to the 2026 City Council Priorities Action Plan adopted unanimously, adding air quality study, VLF communications, electrical readiness/reach codes study, and activating street spaces; community facilities district paused.
- Resolution approving CPI-based adjustments to solid waste and biosolids rates passed unanimously.
- Resolution supporting the CCAG 2026 San Bruno/South San Francisco Community-Based Transportation Plan passed unanimously.
- Council authorized a closed session for real property negotiations at 905 Linden Avenue (APN 012-101-100).
Meeting Transcript
The audio is on the fritz for the people at home. They're trying to rectify that. We can hear each other in the chamber, but unfortunately, for those watching on Zoom and on Teams, I'm sorry, on YouTube, the audio is not coming through. So if you just have a few more minutes and we'll try to control shit. Okay, Mr. Mayor, I believe the audio is working again. Okay. Thank you, Rich. So it's my pleasure to um present this proclamation. Uh, National Public Works Week is uh next week, May 7th. Thank you. May 17th through the 23rd. And um, whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure facilities and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and to the public health, high quality of life and well-being of the people of South San Francisco. Whereas these infrastructure facilities and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving and protecting our nation's transportation, water supply, water treatment, and solid waste systems. Public buildings and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens, and whereas it is in the public interest for the citizens, civic leaders and children in South San Francisco to gain knowledge of and to maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities. And whereas the year 2026 marks the sixty-sixth annual National Public Works Week sponsored by the American Public Works Association. And in ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers, and employees, and to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and quality of life for all. Professionalism, pride, and commitment on behalf of the entire public works team. Thank you again for the recognition and continued support of the important work our team does for the community. Moving on to item number two is a proclamation recognizing May as Mental Health Awareness Month. And uh because of his commitment to building mental health awareness, um, you know, throughout our city and and indeed the county and work that he has done uh professionally uh in his career. I've asked um Eddie Flores to present this mental health. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, very proud to uh share um and take a moment to recognize May as mental health awareness month. And it shouldn't just be one month, it should be all year round. And how I like to um underscore and underline um mental health is is health. It's it's part of our daily being and well-being. And here in San Mateo County, this month is uh dedicated to increasing not only our understanding, but really truly reducing stigma and reminding each other that mental health is an essential part of our daily lives. This year, our county theme is mental health is for everyone. Uh unidos por la salud mental. It is powerful, it is touching, it calls upon all of us to stand together to make space for every voice and to ensure that support is accessible and it is culturally responsive for all of our communities. Uh, the green ribbon that you probably have seen some colleagues here and and some folks uh wear, it it is uh something that symbolizes symbolizes commitment. It represents hope, it represents healing and the courage that it takes to talk openly about mental health. When someone wears a green ribbon, they are telling those around them you're not alone, you matter, your story deserves care and understanding. And it is a reminder that recovery is possible and that compassion can be life-changing as well. Uh this evening we're also um uh joined by uh two of our counties' behavioral health commission. And this is important because many folks uh perhaps know or not know what the behavioral health commission really focuses on and works on, but I can tell you from a professional standpoint um everything from grants, everything to funding uh not only our children and our youth, but also mental health services uh and community organizations that help seniors with mental health, that help men of color with mental health as well. I was uh very uh fortunate to start a center that uh was uh funded by the statewide uh mental behavioral health commission, and that's Alcove, which now has over 12 different centers throughout uh California, including one here in San Mateo, another one in the coast, another one in Palo Alto. Um, and it is through the work again that the San Mateo County Behavioral Health Commission continues. Um, this past Saturday, myself and two other council members, we have been working together to what's been uh kind of formally recognized as the mayor's mental health initiative here in San Mateo County. This was started about five years ago in order to bring awareness uh to mental health at a local level here at a county level. Uh, for the first time ever, it's never really been done here. Um, I will say in the state of California, through associations that support elected officials or school board members or even uh board of supervisors. We held a training, a mental health training for elected officials. Um, and it was supported and sponsored by uh board president Samateo County Supervisor Noelia Corso, and we had over 30 elected officials, city council members as well as mayors, as well as school board members who were uh part of this uh kind of inaugural cohort, if you will. It was uh provided and facilitator by licensed clinicians, um, and it was uh very uh uh moving to see many of us be in a space where we could share some of the difficulties. Many times when you're in leadership, you assume that we are uh not affected by by mental health or or uh this doesn't affect us in it and it does. So it was uh it was really powerful to be there. I want to thank my colleague, council member Nicholas for also supporting and the others.
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